Fly swatter

ABSTRACT

An improved fly swatter blade for killing insects without squashing them which consists of a perforated sheet of relatively resilient plastic material to which is bonded relatively thick cushioning strips formed of soft sponge-like plastic material.

United States Patent J Hegenberger 51 July 4, 1972 [54] FLY SWATTER [72]Inventor: John N. Hegenberger, Columbus, Ohio [731 Assignees: Joseph J.Jacobs, Columbus; Joseph W. Loomis, Johnstown; Bruce A. Lehner,Columbus, Ohio part interest to each [22] Filed: Dec. 8, 1969 211 Appl.No.: 883,096

[52] US. Cl ..43/l37 [51] Int. Cl. ....A0lm 3/02 [58] Field of Search..43/l37- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 1,268,640 I6/1918 Stearns ..43/137 1,299,580 4/1919 Krumlaw ..43/ 137 2,736,1292/1956 Roop ....43/137 1,860,939 5/1932 Miller ..43/137 FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 401,417 11/1933 Great Britain ..43/137.

Primary ExaminerWarner H. Camp Attorney-Schmieding & Fultz [57] ABSTRACTAn improved fly swatter blade for killing insects without squashing themwhich consists of a perforated sheet of relatively resilient plasticmaterial to which is bonded relatively thick cushioning strips formed ofsoft sponge-like plastic material.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEIJJUL' 4 m2 JOHN N. H5

FLY SWA'I'IER This invention relates to fly swatters and moreparticularly to a swatter having an improved blade of composite plasticconstruction.

In general, the improved fly swatter blade of the present inventionconsists of a composite plastic blade that includes a perforated sheetof a relatively rigid resilient plastic material such as polyethylene.The blade further includes relatively thick cushioning strips bonded tosaid sheet and formed of relatively soft sponge-like plastic materialsuch as polyester urethane of from 2 to 4 pounds per cubic foot density.

As one aspect of the present invention, the soft cushioning strips arebonded to the relatively stiff resilient sheet at spaced intervals witha suitable flexible plastic bonding agent so as to maintain both therelatively rigid and soft cushioning characteristics of the compositeblade assembly.

As another aspect of the present invention, the cushioning strips arerelatively thick as compared to the thickness of the resilient sheetwith the advantageous result that flies and insects are killed withoutcrushing them by the combined action, upon impact with a fly supportingsurface, of the slight bending or yielding of the resilient sheet andhigh degree of yielding of the relatively thick and soft cushioningstrips.

As another aspect of the present invention, the novel swatter blade, dueto its novel composite plastic construction, can be inexpensivelyfabricated at high rates of production by fabricating resilient sheetportions by injection moulding or other suitable means, and by diecutting cushioning means from standard sheets of polyester urethane orthe like, and by bonding said cushion portions to said resilient sheetsin a suitable bonding and pressing apparatus.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide animproved fly swatter blade of novel composite plastic construction thatincludes relatively thick, soft cushioning strips bonded to a relativelystiff resilient sheet portion the combined action of which kills fliesand other insects without crushing them so as to avoid staining theswatted surface.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel swatterblade of composite construction that can be economically fabricated athigh rates of production.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the invention isclearly shown.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fly swatter blade constructedin accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the swatter blade of FIG. 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, a fly swatter constructed inaccordance with the present invention comprises a blade means thatincludes a sheet portion indicated generally at 10 is preferably formedof polyethylene or other suitable resilient yet relatively stiff,material to provide sufficient rigidity against the force of air flowingthrough the plurality of openings 14 during a swatting operation.

A cushioning means 12 is bonded to sheet 10 by a layer of mastic orplastic bonding agent 28, FIG. 2, and includes peripheral cushioningstrips 18 and 20 and transverse cushioning strips 22, 24 and 26. It willbe understood that the pattern of the cushioning strips can be modifiedfrom the illustrated arrangement without departing from the spirit ofthe present invention.

The cushioning means 12 is constructed of polyester urethane or othersimilar soft, sponge-like plastic material and has a thickness T-2 thatis preferably relatively thick as compared to the thickness T-l ofresilient sheet portion 10. It has been determined that the swatterblade works effectively when the thickness T-2 is at least twice asgreat as thickness T- 1, with the density of the polyester urethanecushioning material beingqbetween 1% and 5 pounds per cubic foot.

As seen in G. 1, the composite blade construction is provided with ahandle portion 8 that can be secured to the blade portion by anysuitable means such as the staples 16.

In operation when the swatter blade contacts a fly at one of cushioningstrips 18, 20, 22, 24 ro 26, the soft, sponging plastic material readilycompresses at the area of contact with the insect while the balance ofthe cushioning area retards total compression and prevents crushing.

In the event the fly is positioned between the cushioning strips, suchstrips retard and cushion movement of the relatively rigid and hardsheet 10 after the cushioning strips contact the swatted surface andprior to contact of the fly by resilient sheet 10. Here the fly's beingkilled by crushing is avoided by the composite action of relativelyrigid sheet 10 and soft sponge-like cushioning means 12.

I claim:

1. A fly swatter blade comprising, in combination, a sheet means ofresilient polyethylene material provided with openings; and cushioningmeans formed of soft, sponge-like polyester urethane material having adensity of between 1 k and 5 pounds per cubic foot including stripsbonded to one side of said sheet at about the peripheral edge thereofwith spaced transverse strips extending therebetween, and wherein thethickness of the cushioning means is at least twice that of the sheetmeans.

1. A fly swatter blade comprising, in combination, a sheet means ofresilient polyethylene material provided with openings; and cushioningmeans formed of soft, sponge-like polyester urethane material having adensity of between 1 1/2 and 5 pounds per cubic foot including stripsbonded to one side of said sheet at about the peripheral edge thereofwith spaced transverse strips extending therebetween, and wherein thethickness of the cushioning means is at least twice that of the sheetmeans.